Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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128. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement that he has had with Ministerial colleagues since Budget 2023 on increasing the payments to foster carers.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56899/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely aware that foster parents at this present time are experiencing significant financial pressures and the challenges this brings to caring for the children under their care.

I met with the CEO of Tusla met in the aftermath of Budget 2023, and discussed the issue of payments for foster carers. It was recognised during this meeting that foster carers, like many others, are experiencing cost of living pressures and both myself and Tusla wanted to respond to this in a positive and meaningful way.

Following this engagement it was agreed that a single additional once-off cost of living payment in respect of each child in foster care would be paid. The payment is to be made at the current foster care allowance rate of €325 for a child under 12 and €352 for a child over 12. It is the intention of Tusla and my Department that the payment should issue to all applicable cohorts of foster carers.

Additionally I have been engaging with Tusla around the issue of travel costs incurred by foster carers when they are facilitating access or medical visits for the foster child. I can advise that Tusla has committed to reviewing the current supports available to foster carers in respect of travel costs. Tusla have advised that they will be in a position to provide an update to me on their proposals in the latter half of February 2023.

In relation to engagement with ministerial colleagues, I am conscious that issues relating to other financial supports, which have been raised by foster carers fall within the remit of the Department of Social Protection. These include reducing the current six month qualification period for foster parents to receive child benefit and the ineligibility of foster parents to receive the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Foster carers have also highlighted issues around their eligibility for the State Pension Contributory, which is also within the remit of that Department.

While I have not yet had an opportunity to address these specific issues with my ministerial colleague, the Minister for Social Protection I can advise the Deputy that I plan to meet with her in the near future on this matter.

I am aware that the Department of Social Protection has some measures available to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment in the calculation of a State Pension payment. Credit for Home Caring Periods may be awarded to a maximum of 20 years and foster carers are entitled to the benefits of this scheme, on the same basis as other carers, once certain qualifying criteria are met.

The Deputy may be aware that the Report of the Commission on Pensions contains certain recommendations in respect of long-term carers. I can inform him that officials from my Department are engaging with their counterparts from the Department of Social Protection in respect of this recommendation, seeking to ensure that foster carers are included in this proposal.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla and with my Government colleagues and any other relevant stakeholders in the coming months to review and seek to improve supports available to foster parents.